Title: Art of Forgiveness

Series: A Stern Family Saga, Book 2

Author: Monique Orgeron

Genre: Contemporary Romance w/ Suspense

Release Date: January 19, 2018

Liam Stern lived a charmed and carefree life. Always surrounded by friends, he was the boy who could have any girl he wanted, and did.

Until Avery.

She was pure and innocent. She was the one he never saw coming.

She was the only thing that mattered, but the time came for him to fulfill his destiny. To protect Avery from a life she was not made for, he would have to give up the one thing he loved most in this world: her.

Now the decisions made years ago come back to cost them both, dearly.

Avery Edwards was a good girl, never stepping out of line, always the obedient daughter.

Until Liam showed her everything she was missing in her life: love.

Liam was her future, or at least she thought.

Until he broke her.

That was the beginning of her nightmare.

After years apart, Liam and his family hold her future in their hands. Rebuilding a girl who no longer cares to live.

After years of hating Liam, can Avery truly give him her forgiveness?

Zander pipes in on me now, and I notice Vin finally takes his attention away from the girl.

“So, little brother, what about Avery? Tell us more about how you broke her heart, you bastard.”

We all break down laughing; the booze is starting to affect me.

“Fuck all of you. Stay out of my business.”

Vin finally says something. “Leave him alone. He’s in love. Why do you think the slut didn’t let that girl on his lap when we got here? Have you ever seen Liam throw away pussy that fast?”

“Fuck you especially. I’m not a slut.”

They all laugh. Vin returns, “Oh, yes you are, or at least you were. What gives? Tell us something. We know she’s beautiful, a blind man can see that, but what was it about her? I mean, she’s not your usual type.”

I think about how Avery used to joke about me being called the school slut. I guess I was, but now no one interests me but her. It’s like the first time I met her. I knew then no one would ever compare to her. The years after we broke up, I fucked many women, but none were like her.

“She’s different. I don’t know how to explain it. She was just herself. She didn’t try to be anyone else, and she always put me in my place. She’s the first person to ever call me a slut or say I was cocky and arrogant to my face. We were so opposite. She’s beautiful, obviously, but not in the way that she’s trying too hard; she just naturally is. And her smell is so fresh and clean, no harsh, flowery smells. I like that.” I let out a chuckle, remembering. “She’s corny, too. She used to wear all these T-shirts with stupid sayings on them, you know, like, ‘Where’s the beef?’ Just stupid shit. And God, her laugh, it was like the heavens opened when she laughed. With her, I could just be myself. I didn’t have to worry about being cool, you know. We could sit still and be happy.”

I now know the alcohol is definitely affecting me. I didn’t expect to say all that. So, I stop to take a sip of my drink and see they are all looking straight at me, not saying a word. Zander whistles, and Gabriel smiles as he says, “Wow, you got it bad, don’t you? So, so, bad, Liam. I love Fallon, but I don’t think I ever expressed it like that.”

Zander chimes in, “Yeah, you almost sounded like a girl.” Leave it to him to bust my balls.

Written by Monique Orgeron’s eldest, most beautiful, and intelligent daughter. (My sister is going to hate this part.)

My mom happens to be the most caring, loving, and stubborn person I know, well anyone knows. She gives 100% percent of herself to everyone and has given up so much of herself for my sister and I. For twenty-one years she has poured her heart and soul into making sure we know that we are loved and that we can do anything we put our minds too, but it was about time she figured that out about herself.

Up until this year I hadn’t seen my mom do anything for only her, but this book has allowed her to travel the world through the pages of a book, make new friends, and feel the joy of doing something exciting.

There is a new light behind her eyes and it is just making me feel more joy than she can ever imagine. While she might be annoying most of the time, I am so thrilled that she is finally allowing herself to grow as a person and not spend all of her energy on her family.

It has been a long journey of self-discovery for my mom; she has gone from domestic supermom to domestic goddess throughout the process of writing.

We are so very excited and proud of you! I love you as big as the world.